This research was funded by generous contributions to the AAUW Educational Foundation Eleanor Roosevelt Fund
AAUW of Oregon also provided significant funds to support this research as part of the
AAUW Building a Harassment-Free Campus initiative.January, 2006
Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on CampusA report of the AAUW Educational Foundation
For more than a hundred years, AAUW has prospered by focusing on this simple message — educating girls and women helps individuals, their families, and society.
Increasingly, a college education is essential for a woman’s economic security and independence.
Background
Background
AAUW has been at the forefront of
research on sexual harassment for more
than a decade.
AAUW is committed to promoting a
campus climate that is free from
gender bias and sexual harassment
to ensure that all students have an
equal opportunity to excel.
Research Methodology
Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus is based on a nationally
representative online survey of 2,036 undergraduate college students, female and male, ages 18 to 24, conducted in May 2005.
The survey was conducted by Harris
Interactive, one of the leading publicopinion companies in the country.
For the survey, sexual harassment was
defined as “unwanted and unwelcome
sexual behavior that interferes with your life. Sexual harassment is not behaviors that you like or want.”
Student respondents were asked to consider these behaviors only in the context of their college lives, e.g., in class, on campus, or at campus-related events.
Research Methodology
Nearly Two-Thirds of College Students Say They Have Been Sexually Harassed on Campus
Research Findings
Sexual Harassment Happens All Over Campus
39% of harassed student say they are harassed
in dorms or student housing
37% say they are harassed outside on
campus grounds
24% say they are harassed in common areas
of campus buildings
20% say they are harassed in classrooms or
lecture halls
Research Findings
Research Findings
79% of college students say their school has a sexual harassment policy in place
60% say that booklets, brochures and other written materials are available on campus
57% say that they would like their school to offer a web-based confidential method for submitting complaints about harassment
Policies and Brochures Are Common, But Not Enough
UCF Survey Sample Characteristics
40%
54%
26%
58%
18%
82%
46%
69%
All Other Races andEthnicities
Non-Hispanic Whites
Male Respondents
Female Respondents
UCF
AAUWNationalSurvey
UCF Campus Climate
21%
4.4%
44%
65%
17%
47%
1.5%
3.6%
46%
57%
2.4%
54%
A lot of Sexual Harassment
Some but not a lot of SexualHarassment
UCF is Hostil
UCF is Unsafe
UCF is Exciting
UCF is Welcoming
Male
Female
Among female respondents 21% worry about SEXUAL HARASSMENT ‘occasionally’ and 4.9% ‘a lot’ which is 10 times greater than male respondents who worry about sexual harassment occasionally (2.9%) and ‘a lot’ (0.49%)
Perceived Sexual Harassment
• 25% of female students and 36% of
male students said there was no
sexual harassment on campus
• 53% of female students and 47%
of male students indicated there
was some but not a lot of sexual harassment on campus
• 21% of females and 17% of males
indicated there was ‘a lot’
Experienced Sexual Harassment at UCF
• 67 % of respondents knew a friend
who experienced sexual harassment
• 60% of respondents were the targets
of sexual harassment
• 60% was non-physical and 34 %
physical harassment
Frequent Types of Non-contactSexual Harassment
• The most frequent type were jokes, comments, gestures and looks experienced
by 60% of females and 47% of males• Being called ‘gay’. ‘lesbian’ or
a homophobic name was reported by 32%
of males and 12% of females • A quarter of both males and females report
being ‘mooned’ or ‘flashed’
Frequent Types of ContactSexual Harassment
• 29% of females report being touched or grabbed and or brushed against in a sexual way and experience ALL FORMS
of unwanted contact more frequently than males
• 21% of males report being brushed against in a sexual way
Sexual Harassment is Upsetting and Disruptive
• 90% or more of female students
indicated that they would be ‘very
upset’ experiencing any type of sexual harassment
• Male students varied in frequency
of this response from 64% for being touched to 90% for forced sexual
activity
Sexual Harassment is Upsetting and Disruptive
• 64% of females and 30% of males
go out of their way to avoid a harasser
• One-fourth or more of women who
who have been targets of harassment report trouble sleeping, loss of
appetite, performing poorly in class, find it hard to study and ask someone
to protect them
What Do You Do If You are Harassed
• 91% of females and 76% of males would report sexual harassment
• Females knew more campus resources than males and almost 90% cited Victim Services
• Most frequent contacts were with the police, Victim Services and Student Counseling and Student Health
• Only 25% of females and 9% of males would tell a friend
Building a Harassment-Free campus
• Provide a confidential website to report incidents
• More innovative education-(e.g., plays)
• More high profile speakers
• More information for new students
• Focus on certain campus groups
• Let students know there are consequences
According to students, sexual harassment is “part of college life” and is “just the way it is.”
Most students do not talk openly or
seriously about sexual harassment.
Yet many – particularly young women – are upset, angry, afraid, or disappointed in their college experience as a result.
Conclusions
College students are shaping lifelong
behaviors and attitudes that they will take
with them into the work force and broader
society.
It is time for a candid and serious dialogue
about campus sexual harassment – by
students, faculty, parents, administrators, and
the collective higher education community.
Conclusions
AAUW has launched a new initiative,
Building a Harassment Free Campus, to
combat campus sexual harassment.
Action projects are underway on eleven
campuses around the country.
A summit on sexual harassment is
scheduled for June 7-10, 2006
Taking Action
Learn more about Drawing the Line and
what you can do to address sexual
harassment on college campuses at
www.aauw.org/dtl.
Dr. Leslie Sue Lieberman, Director
Women’s Research Center, UCF
407-823-5142 [email protected]
www.cas.ucf.edu/womensresesrch/
Contacts